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Bearings are key components of industrial fans, and bearing selection is a critical aspect of the overall design. Fan manufacturers often choose to use hydrodynamic journal bearings in large fans, especially when the applications are in extreme environments. These fans are found in many industries, such as refineries, pulp and paper, cement and power generation. Most facilities have two types of fans: forced draft (FD) fans that handle ambient air, and induced draft (ID) fans, which handle hot process gasses.

“We demonstrated sustained growth, with total and base orders improving in all regions and all divisions”, said ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer. “The continued execution of our strategy and steadily growing customer demand for our ABB Ability™ digital offering is driving order growth and increased revenues.”

Seals are vital to protecting electric motors, but they have to be able to handle exactly what they’re up against. While your motor supplier or distributor should help with selection, this special report will help food and beverage processors determine for themselves if the environment is wet or dirty or hot and will school them for a discussion on lip seals, labyrinths and V-rings. The second story in the report will discuss the three sanitation zones common in most food & beverage plants.

As the U.S. economy continues its long recovery from the Great Recession, one bright spot has been a sector that, to listen to the cynics, you might think had packed up and fled the country. I’m talking about manufacturing.
The truth is, U.S. manufacturing is a growth business. Since the end of the recession in 2009, manufacturing employment in this country has risen by nearly 1.3 million workers, to a total of more than 12.7 million jobs. And a quarter-million of those manufacturing jobs were added in the last 12 months alone, according to the latest government employment report.

The Manufacturing Institute, the social impact arm of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), and ABB are joining forces to educate the next generation on 21st-century, modern manufacturing opportunities and inspire and recruit them to become the next generation of manufacturers. As a Silver-Level sponsor of Manufacturing Day, ABB is providing substantial support for the nation’s largest one-day celebration of manufacturing, which focuses on showing young people, parents and educators the opportunities a career in manufacturing offers.

ABB’s pioneering work in science and engineering and its commitment to education are at the root of a new, global partnership with the Nobel organization.
ABB has joined a select group of innovative companies to become a Nobel International Partner. The partners program operates in collaboration with Stockholm-based Nobel Media, the global outreach arm of the Nobel Foundation – whose annual prizes in physics, chemistry and other scientific fields recognize the world’s most transformative breakthroughs.

Passport, a web based tool that guides new and experienced users alike through an intuitive selection process for Dodge products and accessories, now includes conveyor pulley assemblies and a belt conveyor design program for an application based approach to designing and selecting Dodge mechanical products.

Olam International is a supplier of food and industrial raw materials including nuts, grains, coffee, cotton and rubber to over 22,000 customers around the world. The company uses hundreds of thousands of motors to keep products moving on conveyor belts and other equipment.

Azima, Inc. offered corporate leaders and plant managers a rare glimpse into its proprietary machine-reliability databases, by publishing definitive reliability scores for the industrial motors most commonly deployed around the world today. Azima has ranked not just the world's leading industrial motor brands, but specific models as well. Azima's Reliability Ratings Report (Industrial Motors) is the first installment in a series of forthcoming performance ratings for various classes of industrial rotating machinery. Azima is a fast-growing high-tech company that maximizes industrial productivity. Azima provides technology-powered, data-driven Predictive Maintenance services to hundreds of leading companies in twelve different industries, all over the world.

While many bearing manufacturers have moved operations out of the United States, Dodge mounted bearings are still manufactured at plants in Marion, NC and Rogersville, TN by employees who take pride in making quality products. By continuing to invest in US manufacturing, we are able to provide safe, stable job opportunities in local communities. Manufacturing locally, and flexible manufacturing solutions such as build on demand capability, allows us to respond quickly to customer needs and provide fast stock replenishment to distribution centers and warehouses.

Company News

Bearings are key components of industrial fans, and bearing selection is a critical aspect of the overall design. Fan manufacturers often choose to use hydrodynamic journal bearings in large fans, especially when the applications are in extreme environments. These fans are found in many industries, such as refineries, pulp and paper, cement and power generation. Most facilities have two types of fans: forced draft (FD) fans that handle ambient air, and induced draft (ID) fans, which handle hot process gasses.

“We demonstrated sustained growth, with total and base orders improving in all regions and all divisions”, said ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer. “The continued execution of our strategy and steadily growing customer demand for our ABB Ability™ digital offering is driving order growth and increased revenues.”

Seals are vital to protecting electric motors, but they have to be able to handle exactly what they’re up against. While your motor supplier or distributor should help with selection, this special report will help food and beverage processors determine for themselves if the environment is wet or dirty or hot and will school them for a discussion on lip seals, labyrinths and V-rings. The second story in the report will discuss the three sanitation zones common in most food & beverage plants.

As the U.S. economy continues its long recovery from the Great Recession, one bright spot has been a sector that, to listen to the cynics, you might think had packed up and fled the country. I’m talking about manufacturing.
The truth is, U.S. manufacturing is a growth business. Since the end of the recession in 2009, manufacturing employment in this country has risen by nearly 1.3 million workers, to a total of more than 12.7 million jobs. And a quarter-million of those manufacturing jobs were added in the last 12 months alone, according to the latest government employment report.

The Manufacturing Institute, the social impact arm of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), and ABB are joining forces to educate the next generation on 21st-century, modern manufacturing opportunities and inspire and recruit them to become the next generation of manufacturers. As a Silver-Level sponsor of Manufacturing Day, ABB is providing substantial support for the nation’s largest one-day celebration of manufacturing, which focuses on showing young people, parents and educators the opportunities a career in manufacturing offers.

ABB’s pioneering work in science and engineering and its commitment to education are at the root of a new, global partnership with the Nobel organization.
ABB has joined a select group of innovative companies to become a Nobel International Partner. The partners program operates in collaboration with Stockholm-based Nobel Media, the global outreach arm of the Nobel Foundation – whose annual prizes in physics, chemistry and other scientific fields recognize the world’s most transformative breakthroughs.

Passport, a web based tool that guides new and experienced users alike through an intuitive selection process for Dodge products and accessories, now includes conveyor pulley assemblies and a belt conveyor design program for an application based approach to designing and selecting Dodge mechanical products.

Olam International is a supplier of food and industrial raw materials including nuts, grains, coffee, cotton and rubber to over 22,000 customers around the world. The company uses hundreds of thousands of motors to keep products moving on conveyor belts and other equipment.

Azima, Inc. offered corporate leaders and plant managers a rare glimpse into its proprietary machine-reliability databases, by publishing definitive reliability scores for the industrial motors most commonly deployed around the world today. Azima has ranked not just the world's leading industrial motor brands, but specific models as well. Azima's Reliability Ratings Report (Industrial Motors) is the first installment in a series of forthcoming performance ratings for various classes of industrial rotating machinery. Azima is a fast-growing high-tech company that maximizes industrial productivity. Azima provides technology-powered, data-driven Predictive Maintenance services to hundreds of leading companies in twelve different industries, all over the world.

While many bearing manufacturers have moved operations out of the United States, Dodge mounted bearings are still manufactured at plants in Marion, NC and Rogersville, TN by employees who take pride in making quality products. By continuing to invest in US manufacturing, we are able to provide safe, stable job opportunities in local communities. Manufacturing locally, and flexible manufacturing solutions such as build on demand capability, allows us to respond quickly to customer needs and provide fast stock replenishment to distribution centers and warehouses.

New Products

Food safety compliance demands equipment that can face the challenges of the food and beverage industry. Food safety violations are on the rise, costing companies thousands, if not millions, to resolve; all while posing a health risk to the public and damaging the company’s reputation. This means that all food processing equipment should be designed, used, and maintained with food safety principals in mind. Yet, many products fail prematurely due to corrosion and/or grease washout from the high pressure, caustic washdowns common in achieving the increasingly stringent cleanliness standards.

We are proud to announce the next generation food safe, stainless steel motor platform for extreme environments within the food and beverage industry. Baldor-Reliance Food Safe motors, designed with smooth contours and advanced sealing, exceed IP69K for water, to maximize motor life in high pressure, sanitary cleaning environments.

The Dodge Hydraulic ISAF (HISAF) mounted spherical roller bearing features a patented built-in hydraulic mounting system that makes this bearing simple to mount and dismount. Hydraulic pressure replaces physical labor, creating a safer and more accurate installation. The ease and precision of installation means less time is spent installing and removing the HISAF, reducing downtime on the equipment and labor costs associated with replacing bearings. Built to the same critical mounting dimensions as the industry standard SAF and SDAF, HISAF is a drop in interchange to existing equipment.

The Quantis product family, a full line of modular gear drives, has expanded to offer four and five stages of gear reduction for all three types of gear arrangements; in-line helical (ILH), offset parallel (MSM) and right angle helical bevel (RHB). Quantis reducers and gearmotors can now be configured in ratios over 7500:1 with an output torque range up to 14,000 Nm, making the new output speed range 20-times greater than before.

We're pleased to announce the expansion of the Raptor tire coupling product line, designed to deliver up to 5.9x longer coupling life, to include sizes E100, E120 and E140, with a maximum torque rating of 340,340 in-lb.
The Raptor coupling utilizes patented WingLock™ technology, an optimized elastomeric element designed to provide longer driven equipment life and increased reliability. This technology increases surface area at the most critical regions of the element, resulting in higher bond strength, improved fatigue resistance, and significantly longer coupling life than competitive urethane designs.

Fire Pump motors are for use on fire pumps installed per NFPA-20. All motors meet UL requirements (File # E481231) in open drip proof enclosures designed for relatively clean and dry environments. Foot mounted motors are available from stock in ratings of 10-300 Horsepower and close coupled pump designs are available from stock in rating of 10-100 Horsepower. For custom designs please contact your local Baldor•Reliance sales representative.

Baldor Electric Company is pleased to introduce a new platform of DC motors in a power dense, low profile package with enhanced DC motor technology for performance and reliability. The RPM PD series offers an alternative to motor rewinds or expensive AC conversions.

Baldor Electric Company is proud to announce a new addition to our washdown family of enclosed gear reducer products - the new Baldor•Dodge Quantis® E-Z Kleen Gearmotor. Quantis E-Z Kleen gearmotors are the premier choice for food, beverage and meat processing applications, designed for maximum reliability, while providing industry leading washdown protection.

Awards & Recognition

ABB, a motor and generator manufacturer, developed an impressive recycling program over the past year. Recycling included more than 2,727 tons of scrap metal, wood, used oil, batteries, electronics, lamps, paper, cardboard and plastic. Other non-recyclable waste was turned into energy through their recent Zero Landfill Initiative. The facility worked with their largest supplier to establish a returnable packaging agreement. In 2017, ABB earned more than $265,000 from the sale of its recyclables. When meals were catered to the facility, excess food was donated to the local fire department. To encourage recycling and zero waste, every employee was trained and these initiatives were incorporated into new employee orientation. ABB also participated in the Upstate Lean Alliance, sharing ideas with and mentoring other businesses.

For the 16th year in a row, Control Design Magazine readers has chosen Baldor-Reliance motors as the premier choice in the industrial electric motor category. More than 15,000 readers were invited to access Control Design Magazine confidential ballot to cast their vote in an unaided ballot of their go-to sources for products and service in machine automation.

Tennessee Occupational Health and Safety Administration (TOSHA) officials traveled to Rogersville on Tuesday, March 20, to present the Governor’s Award of Excellence for Workplace Safety and Health to the ABB Rogersville Ball Bearing Plant.

We've now tabulated the Readers' Choice Awards 26 times, for more than a quarter century, and we're starting to see it as an institution—more than a habit, at least a tradition, and we think, a trusted repository of valuable information for process automation professionals who want to know which companies offer the best technology, according to their peers.

For the 17th straight year, Control Design Magazine has conducted an unaided ballot of their subscribers; more than 18,000 individuals who have buying influence or authority were invited to cast their votes. The ballot was created by these same people, asking them to rank their go-to sources for products and services in machine automation. For the 15th year in a row, readers selected Baldor•Reliance motors as the top choice in the Industrial Electric Motor category.

Eighteen South Carolina businesses have been recognized by the SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation's Division of Labor for their commitment to safety. The Division of Labor's Safety Awards Program is open to all South Carolina Employers.

Readers of Control Magazine have named Baldor Electric as their top pick in the Electric Motors category for 2016, an honor Baldor has received for the fifth year in a row.
The process consists of unaided voting by readers, meaning readers are asked to write the answer to a series of survey questions without the help from a pre-selected series of names.
“We are honored that customers voted for us again in the 2017 Readers’ Choice Awards,” says Jesse Henson, Managing Director of Sales & Product Management, NEMA Motors. “We know that customers have many options when it comes to buying the products they need. We will continue to earn our customer’s confidence and trust, and we thank them for choosing us."

At a recent industry affairs conference held in Zurich, Switzerland, Baldor Electric Company’s Senior Director of Industry Affairs, John Malinowski, was recognized with the MS’16 Award “for his personal engagement to make IE3 premium efficiency motors the global market standard”.

The Bearing Manufacturer Excellence of Innovation in Product Design Award recognizes companies for innovation and excellence in product design or technology. BSA distributor members reviewed and ranked manufacturer innovation submissions. Among the abundance of innovative product designs submitted, three submissions were chosen to be recognized for their outstanding service to the end use customer.

For more than 15 years, Control Design Magazine has conducted an unaided ballot to more than 22,000 subscribers who have buying authority or influence at their organizations and asked them to list their go-to sources.

Industry News

A Control Design reader writes: I work at an OEM that makes process skids for wastewater treatment and custom agricultural-related machines and equipment. It seems like we have a huge number of suppliers, which affects both design and procurement with too much time spent specifying parts, too many purchase orders and too much time chasing delivery time. We either need to limit the suppliers or find an easier way to specify, order and receive parts.
Are there online tools, online stores or portals where the design and purchasing departments can go to select parts and configure systems? I'm looking for a way to automatically generate a parts list or have quick access to standard, fast lead time control components. What are my options for both new, upgrade and spare parts projects?

Powering production in food plants is not as simple as throwing a switch. Peak-time charges, outages, surges and other factors can complicate calculations of cost and reliability and require solutions that go beyond standardizing on premium motors. The good news is that OEMs are delivering solutions on multiple fronts, from systems approaches to power delivery and servo options to sanitary design improvements and smart motors.

In ways big and small, food manufacturing is tapping into the promise and potential of internet-based tools and applications that address some of the most nettlesome problems in plant operations.
At least two makers of AC induction motors are introducing moderately priced sensors for monitoring temperature, current and vibration, a capability reserved in years past for large machinery that would have catastrophic consequences if they went down. One of these condition-monitoring tools, the ABB Smart Sensor, soon will be able to continuously relay data to the cloud for analysis and reporting of maintenance alerts.

Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin takes second place due to strong growth in manufacturing employment over the past few years. From 2010 – 2015, the number of manufacturing jobs in the area grew by 37.8%, a figure beaten by only 5% of metro areas in our study.
The growth in jobs is accompanied by growing incomes. From 2014 to 2015 the average income for a manufacturing worker here grew by 14.7%. That’s the 13th-fastest rate.

Element material selection is a critical component in the design process for any elastomeric coupling. This is no different for axially split tire elements. Some manufacturers use a high-load-capacity polyurethane bonded to metal clamp rings. At first glance, this material would appear to be a wise choice; polyurethane is a very strong material, and the primary function of a coupling is to transmit torque.

In all aspects of business, having dependable equipment is crucial to ensuring optimal performance and profitability. This couldn’t be truer in the feed and grain industry where time and productivity is of the essence. However, the conditions to which electric motors are exposed to in this environment are very different from typical electric motor applications like warehouses or manufacturing facilities.

The annual EASA conference & convention is quickly approaching in Tampa, Florida. If your attending this year, be sure and stop by booth #501 to visit your friends from Baldor! We have an exciting lineup for EASA this year and would like nothing more than to share with you. This year’s convention runs from June 25-27 at the Tampa Convention Center.

Always on the lookout for ways to reduce downtime and energy costs, chemical processors are turning to advanced motors and drives to help achieve these goals. Sometimes as integrated systems, sometimes not, new motors designed for premium efficiency and reliability and more sophisticated drives are helping processors increase availability and lower cost of ownership. Fortunately, motor and drive sup- pliers are working hard to provide top-notch equipment with modern features that can withstand the demanding applications found in the chemical processing environment.

Cost cutting on existing equipment will include using spares from idled equipment instead of buying new ones. While this may be necessary, it may not save money if the spare is improperly matched and installed.
Low oil prices are greatly affecting the investment and installation of new pumping equipment. Cost cutting on existing equipment will include using spares from idled equipment instead of buying new ones. While this may be necessary, it may not save money if the spare is improperly matched and installed. Focusing on the same horsepower (hp), revolutions per minute (rpm), frame size and voltage is not enough. Ignoring five motor application considerations discussed in this article will cause additional downtime faster than expected.

Machine integration and automation should be planned in the conceptual phases of a machine project, says Baldor’s Kirkpatrick. "The amount of integration will usually have a considerable effect on the required wiring—control, power, communications—which must be accommodated in the design and installation phases," he says.